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C10225v2 Bachelor of Midwifery

Award(s): Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid)
UAC code: 606010 (FT) (Autumn semester)
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus

Notes

This course is only offered to local students.

This course is not offered to international students.


Overview
Course aims
Career options
Admission requirements
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Rules and regulations
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

The Bachelor of Midwifery incorporates midwifery theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities. Graduates of the course are competent midwives who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.

This course was the first Bachelor of Midwifery to be introduced in New South Wales. It provides the opportunity to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia without having to become a registered nurse beforehand.

Course aims

The course aims to produce informed, reflective, caring and compassionate midwives who demonstrate competencies related to professional responsibility, interpersonal processes and the exercise of clinical judgment. Graduates are capable of providing woman-centred care in both hospitals and community settings. They practise reflective, evidence-based midwifery encompassing primary health care principles as well as emotional and social aspects of birth. They promote culturally sensitive care for women from indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The course prepares students to identify and analyse the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will continue to develop them as midwives and lifelong learners. This includes meeting the challenges of contemporary midwifery practice and maternity service provision in Australia and internationally.

Career options

Career options include being a registered midwife in both hospital and community settings, and in both metropolitan and rural areas. Career progression opportunities include midwifery education and management, consultancy roles, e.g. lactation consultant and independent practice.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

The UTS Year 12 Bonus Scheme awards bonus points to Australian high school applicants based on performance in HSC subjects that are relevant to the course applied for. Further details are available at:

www.uts.edu.au/future-students/undergraduate/high-school-students/year-12-bonus-scheme

Current school leaver applicants are assessed solely on ATAR.

Entry to the course is competitive. Applicants who are over 20 and do not have competitive recognised academic qualifications are encouraged to sit a Special Tertiary Admissions Test or complete a TAFE certificate IV qualification or higher.

The English proficiency requirement for local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

Assumed knowledge

Any two units of English.

Any two units of science and any two units of mathematics are recommended.

Course duration and attendance

The course is offered at City campus on a three-year, full-time basis.

Course structure

Students must gain a minimum of 144 credit points to complete the Bachelor of Midwifery.

Full-time students study four subjects a semester incorporating midwifery theory, science and clinical practice.

Industrial training/professional practice

This course includes extensive midwifery practice, which is a compulsory component. Students undertake midwifery professional experience in an allocated area health service facility. Clinical placements occur in blocks each semester, and are in addition to time spent in the midwifery clinical practice laboratories that simulate the clinical environment. The placements involve morning, evening and possibly night shifts. Over the duration of the course, students are also required to follow women throughout their pregnancy, birth and the period after birth. This requires students to be on-call to attend the labour and birth. Students in the final year of their program undertake a prolonged period of clinical experience with much of their time spent in a clinical environment. Students also have the opportunity to complete a rural and remote placement.

All midwifery students must adhere to the requirements in the Ministry of Health policy directive, 'PD2011_005 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases', prior to commencement of any clinical practice placements. The policy can be viewed at:

www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/PD/2011/PD2011_005.html

The policy should be read in full as it outlines students' obligation for screening and immunisation against certain infectious diseases prior to commencing their clinical placement. Students are asked to provide evidence of their immunity or vaccination status, and screening for tuberculosis (TB) status may also be required prior to the commencement of the first clinical placement. Students should be aware that if they do not meet the requirements of the policy they cannot commence the placement and as a result are not able to complete the course.

Students are also required to undertake a National Criminal Record Check and obtain a National Police Certificate. Further information is available at:

www.health.nsw.gov.au/jobs/student_clearance/index.asp

In the Bachelor of Midwifery program, students commence midwifery professional experience in the clinical setting in first year and this continues into second and third year.

Course completion requirements

STM90744 First-year subjects 48cp
STM90745 Second-year subjects 48cp
STM90746 Third-year subjects 48cp
Total 144cp

Course program

A typical full-time course program is shown below.

Full time
Year 1
Autumn semester
92622 Becoming a Midwife   6cp
92271 Foundations of Midwifery Practice   6cp
92272 Anatomy and Physiology: Pregnancy and Childbirth   6cp
92632 Midwifery Practice 1: Preparation for Practice   6cp
Spring semester
92634 Transitions to Parenthood   6cp
92922 The Meaning of Birth   6cp
92927 Evidence-based Practice (Midwifery)   6cp
92630 Midwifery Practice 2: Supporting Women   6cp
Year 2
Autumn semester
99636 Essentials of Pathophysiology   6cp
92626 Midwifery Practice 3: Complex Pregnancy   6cp
92624 Complex Pregnancy   6cp
92280 Complex Newborn Care   6cp
Spring semester
92623 Complex Labour, Birth and Puerperium   6cp
92621 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: Women and Babies   6cp
92627 Midwifery Practice 4: Complex Labour, Birth and Puerperium   6cp
91604 Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology   6cp
Year 3
Autumn semester
92282 Australian Health Care System   6cp
92631 Midwifery as Primary Health Care   6cp
92625 Emergencies in Maternity Care   6cp
92628 Midwifery Practice 5: Working with Women   6cp
Spring semester
92286 International Perspectives in Midwifery   6cp
92633 Professional Practice   6cp
92283 Challenges in Midwifery Practice   6cp
92629 Midwifery Practice 6: Transitions to Being a Midwife   6cp

Rules and regulations

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes. There are eight domains of inherent requirements in the Bachelor of Midwifery. Some domains have a number of sub-domains. The domains are:

  • Ethical behaviour
  • Behavioural stability
  • Legal
  • Communication
  • Cognition
  • Sensory ability
  • Strength and mobility
  • Sustainable performance

It is a requirement of this course to complete a number of clinical placements. Clinical placements involve a midwifery student going into a clinical setting to undertake the practical components of the course required for registration. If a student has a condition or disability that prevents them from completing a placement, completion of the degree may be hindered. Students should consult the full inherent requirements.

Honours

The Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours) (C09051) is available to eligible students with an additional year of full-time study, or two years of part-time study.

Professional recognition

Provides eligibility to apply for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. See the faculty rules for more information.

Other information

Further information is available from the UTS Student Centre on:

telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
www.ask.uts.edu.au
www.health.uts.edu.au